Conveyer bucket



I. W. MACY.

CONVEYER BUCKET.

Jan; 30, 1923.

FILED ocr10.1921.

[hoe/2 rat-ear ISHIMAEL VT. IYIACY, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GODFREY CONVETOB COMPANY, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION" OF INDIANA.

CONVEYER BUCKET.

Application filed October 10, 1921} Serial No. 506,758.

To all whom may cancer 2i:

Be it known that l, lsnimnn 1V. Macy, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyer Buckets, or which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved conveyer bucket and more particularly to a bucket adapted to be automatically closed upon being placed in the loading position. y

In certain types or conveyers now in use, buckets at the loading position are supported upon rollers carried upon OPPOSit'G sides of the buckets. it is essential that the buckets be closed upon reaching this position. The buckets are opened upon reaching the clumping position and it is immaterial whether they are then closed or only closed upon again reaching the loading position.

*t is an object of the present invention to provide a bucket which automatically closes upon reaching the loading position, the closing being accomplished by gravity.

it is a further object to provide a bucket oi this type which is simple in construction and design and positive in operation.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Broad y, my invention comprises the application to the bucket of movable members upon its sides, these members being con nested to the doors. These movable members serve as supports for the bucket when in loading position and are then carried by the weight of the bucket to their upper position relative to the bucket and by this movement serve to close the doors. Independent latch means are provided for maintaining the doors closed.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of the bucket in closed position, the open position being indicated in broken lines; and

Figure 2 is an end View of the bucket, certain parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction.

As shown in the drawings, the bucket coinprises sides 3 and ends a which are so shaped that the bucket decreases somewhat in size toward the bottom. The bucket is provided with the bail 5 which is pivotalgy connected lower to'the inside of the upper edge of the bucket by the straps 6 as best shown in Figure 2. Thebottom of the bucket is closed by the pair of swinging doors 7' and 8. The door 7 carries "the channel member 9 which covers the meeting edges of the two doors.

The toggle spring 10 is carried in the channel member 9 by means of the cross pins 11. The ends of the spring are adapted to engage the latch hooks 12 which are pivotally connected at 13 to the sides of the bucket. i v i The vertically slidable members 14 are car'- ried in straps 15 and 16 upon the sides of the bucket. The lower ends of these members li are turned outwardly at 17' andar'e connected by the eye-bolts 18 to chains 19, the ends oi which are connected to the doors "1' and 8. The intermediate portions ot the members 14 are each provided with the axle 2O uponwhich is carried the wheel 'lhe outer end of the axle is connected to the member i by the bent strap 22, the shoulder 23 of which is adapted to engage the supporting strap 16.

in the operation of my bucket it is supported tr in the conveyer by means of the bail 5. Upon reaching the dumping position, the bucket is lowered until. the toggle spring 10 comes in contact with some rela-' tively fixed surface such as the pile of dumped material. Upward movement of the center of the toggle caused by the weight of the lowered bucket thrusts outwardly the ends oi the toggle and these'ends in turn push outwardly the latches 12 and thus release the doors of the bucket. The sliding members 14- are unsupported save'by the straps 15 and 16 and are thus in their lower position as shown in broken lines in Figure 1. The chains 19 are loose and the weight of the material swings the doors open to the position shown in Figure 1. The doors remain in this position until the wheels 21 engage rails which support the bucket and guide it properly under a loadl. in i'h rail, the weight of the bucket causes the bu ket to move downwardly relative to tlr wheels, thus bringing the movable membe's to the position shown in full lines in the drawings. The flexible connectors 19 are thus caused to swing the doors upwardly and to close them.

The latches 12 are thrust outwardly by spout or chute. As the wheels engage,

the closing movement of the doors and swing inwardly by gravity to latch the doors when they are fully closed. The latches actually engage the channel member 9 which covers the meeting edge oi the doors, as has been stated.

Obviously, the particular form of latching means shown is not essential to the operation of the remainder of the device. This, however, has been proved in practice to be particularly eiiicient.

My invention is susceptible of modifications to take care oi varying conditions and it is my intention to cover all such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a conveyor bucket, swinging doors forming the bottom thereof, a bail, movable members located laterally of the bucket and adapted to engage nXed supports to support the bucket, and means connecting the lateral members and the doors whereby movement of the members serves to actuate the doors 2. In a conveyer bucket, swinging doors forming the bottom thereof, a bail, vertically movable members independent of the bail and of each other located upon opposite sides of the bucket, and adapted to support the bucket, and means connecting said members and the doors whereby movement ot the members serves to actuate the doors.

3. In a conveyer bucket, swinging doors forming the bottom thereof, a bail, vertically movable members independent or the bail located upon opposite sides of the bucket, and adapted to engage fixed rails to support the bucket, and means connecting said members and the doors, the weight of the bucket when supported on said members serving to move the members to their upper position relative to the bucket.

at. In a conveyer bucket, swinging doors forming the bottom thereoii, a bail, verti cally movable members independent of the bail located upon opposite sides of the bucket, and adapted to engage fined rails to support the bucket, and means connecting said members and the doors, the weight of the bucket when supported on said members serving to move the members to their upper position relative to the bucket, the means connecting the members and doors serving to shut the doors when the members are at their upper position.

5. In a conveyer bucket, swinging doors forming the bottom thereof", a bail, vertically movable members attached to the sides at the bucket, the members carrying wheels adapted to engage rails to support the bucket when in the loading position and adapted to be carried to their upper limit of movement by the weight. or the bucket, when engaging the rails, and flexible means connecting the movable members to the doors whereby the doors are closed by the upward movement of the members, and are permitted to open upon downward movement of the members.

Signed at Elkhart, Indiana, this 3rd day of ()ctober, i921.

ISl'ili itAEL WV. li ii i CY. 

